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20 February 2015

Op-Ed on Internet Safety

Local TD Frances Fitzgerald, Minister for Justice & Equality, writes
about her work to promote online safety and tackle cyberbullying, and outlines supports
available for parents who wish to ensure safe online experiences for their
children.*

The internet is giving tremendous opportunities to all
of us. From a professional, educational and social point of view, it is
connecting us all in ways scarcely imaginable even 20 years ago.

However, there are some dreadful horrors associated
with the internet, including online child sexual abuse - increasingly an area
which Garda law enforcement is having to deal with.

Governments, families and parents have to be very
vigilant in making sure that we get the very best from our modern technology
while protecting our society - particularly our children - from its dangers.

As a government we’re working with the tech industry
to bring in forward-thinking legislation, and of course information and
education is the best way for all of us as parents to help our children be safe
online.

In my work as a local TD, I regularly meet parents and teachers who are
wary of the pitfalls facing their children.I can relate to their worries: As a mother of three, and a social worker
by training, the protection of children has formed a central part of my life
for many decades. As a politician I have always sought to promote robust and
innovative legislation to protect our children, both off-and-online. In my
current role as Minister for Justice and Equality I have carried forward this conviction
from my previous portfolio as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

My Department takes the lead on internet safety for children through the
work of the Office for Internet Safety (OIS). The OIS operates in the important
area of prevention and awareness-raising including the promotion of internet
safety - particularly for children - and by raising awareness among parents and
teachers about the importance of safety on the internet.

The OIS has produced a series of information booklets and other materials
which are available to parents and teachers in hard copy (free of charge) and
electronically on www.internetsafety.ie . This includes a booklet on cyberbullying,
addresses for service providers, social networking sites, mobile phone
companies and other sources of information.

Through the EU Safer Internet Programme, the OIS coordinates projects
and funds four partner organisations for awareness raising:

www.webwise.ie: Provides material and
programmes to ensure children, teachers and parents understand the benefits and
risks of the internet.

www.hotline.ie: Allows the public to report
suspected illegal content or activities found on the internet

www.childline.ie (1800 66 66 66): provides a
24/7 service where children affected by issues encountered on the Internet may
turn for advice and guidance

I am proud to say that Ireland is an active member of international
efforts to promote and strengthen internet safety. The Irish hotline was one of
the founder members of the international umbrella organisation for hotlines
which is called INHOPE. Ireland is also a member of the Global Alliance against
Child Sexual Abuse Online.

In November 2014 An Garda Siochána launched a new initiative for
blocking child pornography on the internet. The Gardaí signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with major internet provider UPC, whereby the Gardaí provide a
list to UPC and the blocking is carried out in accordance with the list.

I congratulate the Garda Commissioner for initiating this innovation in
Ireland and I commend UPC for having the vision to participate in this venture.
I am pleased to say that the Gardaí are working with other companies to extend
the initiative. It should mean that there is less chance of a child or young
person coming across illegal material on the internet by mistake.

Internet companies themselves are very
conscious of these issues – just this week I held a roundtable with major
players such as Facebook, Google and UPC, and I am encouraged by the steps they
are taking to improve and enhance their safety features.

We cannot be vigilant enough when it comes
to online bullying, and I will work closely with the Garda Siochána and all the
major internet companies headquartered in our country to ensure that no stone
is left unturned in creating a safer online environment for our children.

As parents, we live in a very different
world to the one we grew up in. We are as likely to ask our kids “How did you
get on online today?” as we are to ask them “How did you get on today?”

Technology can transform our lives for the
better, so we have to make sure that it develops in such a way that our
children can use it in a safe and secure manner.

(* This article was published in the Gazette newspaper on Thursday 19th February 2015)